What is a vehicle title check?

A vehicle title check may help identify discrepancies in the vehicle's ownership, liens, salvage titles, or branding issues before buying or selling.

Why should I perform a vehicle title check?

It may help avoid unknowingly purchasing stolen, salvaged, or lien-encumbered vehicles with unresolved technical, electrical and safety issues.

Can a vehicle title check reveal past accidents?

Yes, a title check may show a wide range of loss events in the car's history, this can include flood, vehicle collision, fire, lemon, theft and more.

How do I run a vehicle title check?

Enter the vehicle's VIN on a trusted vehicle history service like VinCheckUp to generate a title records report.

Does a title check guarantee the vehicle has no problem(s)?

No, it can provide signs of trouble related to total loss claims, lemon law buybacks, accidents, theft and branding, but it cannot reveal unreported accidents or mechanical issues. For this reason, it is highly recommended to couple a vehicle title check with a professional pre-purchase inspection.

Can I check titles for all types of vehicles?

For the most part all vehicles made after 1981 with a valid 17 digit VIN can be checked. This includes cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, RVs, and other recreational and industrial vehicles.

Instant Car Title Check

Find out if a vehicle has a Salvage, Rebuilt, Flood, Lemon or any other title brands along with detailed title records.

Where to find VIN?

Reports available on Cars, Trucks, Vans, RVs and Motorcycles.

Millions of cars on the road today are reported to have branded titles

A branded title vehicle will experience a depreciation of up to 40% in resale value

Branded title vehicles are likely to have a history of severe accidents or damage

What is a branded vehicle title?

A vehicle title is an important document that serves as proof of ownership for a motor vehicle. This document contains essential information about the vehicle and its owner, and it is issued by the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency.

One of the primary purposes of a vehicle title is to thwart fraudulent activities and establish a clear ownership record. It is also used to document the vehicle's history, capturing any events that could impact its value or safe operation. The vehicle's title is also used to record specific events or conditions that have affected the vehicle's history. Such recorded events are called title brands. The purpose of this office record keeping procedure is to provide transparency about the vehicle's past, outlining events that can significantly impact the car's value, safety, and resale potential directly on the title document.

A clean title absent of any title brands is an indication that the vehicle has not experienced any recorded severe damage such as a serious accident/collision, flood, Lemon buy-back, vandalism, theft, Mileage rollback and more...

A branded title, on the other hand, indicates that the vehicle has a history of significant damage or other factors that affect its value and safety. Examples of branded titles include salvage titles (issued when a vehicle is declared a total loss by an insurance company), rebuilt titles (given to vehicles that were previously salvaged but have been repaired and inspected), flood titles, lemon titles, and more. The term "branded" highlights that the title bears a specific designation based on the vehicle's history.

When purchasing a used vehicle, it's crucial for buyers to check the title status and obtain a comprehensive vehicle history report to understand the vehicle's background and any potential issues. A clean title generally suggests a vehicle with a clear history, while a branded title signals that the vehicle has undergone specific events that buyers should carefully consider.

The difference between a clean and a branded title vehicle

A modern vehicle depends on a complex array of systems and components for its proper operation. Elements like car computers, electronics, drivetrain, suspension components, and body panels can all be impacted during an accident, flood, theft or any other significant event. In some instances, a collision could impact a singular component or system, while in other cases, multiple systems may be affected.

CLEAN TITLE

Higher Resale Value: Clean title vehicles generally have higher resale values compared to vehicles with branded titles. Buyers often prefer clean titles because they indicate a clear history with no major issues.
Easier Financing: Buyers of clean title vehicles typically have an easier time securing financing. Lenders are more willing to finance vehicles with clear titles, as they are considered lower risk.
Higher Market Desirability: Whenever you decide to sell your clean title vehicle, it will be more desirable than a branded title vehicle oftentimes leading to a faster and smoother transaction.
Peace of Mind: Clean title vehicles provide peace of mind to buyers, as they are less likely to have significant damage or issues that could affect safety and performance.
Superior Insurability: Insurance companies often provide better coverage and lower premiums for vehicles with clean titles, as they are perceived to be in better overall condition.
Higher Initial Cost: Clean title vehicles with no extensive accident histories typically come with a higher upfront cost compared to similar vehicles with branded titles.

BRANDED TITLE

Reduced Resale Value: Branded title vehicles have lower resale values compared to clean title vehicles. Future buyers may be hesitant to purchase a vehicle with a history of flood, theft, major collision, odometer tempering or any other significant damage.
Limited Financing Options: Financing a branded title vehicle can be more challenging, and interest rates may be higher. Many lenders may be unwilling to finance such vehicles, so the choice of lenders may be limited.
Unexpected Repairs: The state of a vehicle with a branded title is heavily influenced by the quality of its repairs. Hidden problems might arise from inadequate repairs, necessitating additional attention and potentially incurring additional costs.
Potential Safety Concerns: When improperly repaired, branded title vehicles may have underlying safety issues that could compromise the vehicle's performance or pose safety risks.
Higher Insurance Premiums: Insurance coverage may be more difficult to secure for branded title vehicles, and premiums may be higher due to perceived risks.
Lower Initial Cost: Branded title vehicles are generally priced lower than their clean title counterparts, making them initially more affordable for budget-minded buyers. It also may give consumers the opportunity to own a specific vehicle that may otherwise be out of their price range.

Vehicle Title Check by State

How to check if a vehicle has a branded title?

There are multiple ways to uncover if a vehicle has a branded title:

Once you have obtained the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) you can use to generate a vehicle title check by vin

Going beyond a vehicle title search by VIN number the VinCheckUp Vehicle History Report is a comprehensive document that provides a wealth of information about a vehicle's past. This report can uncover a wide range of information, beyond identifying if a vehicle has a branded title, it can provide details about the specific brand (e.g., salvage, rebuilt). In addition, it can provide vital details related to title history such as reported accidents, sales, repossession, theft, flood, odometer readings, mileage rollback, title Issuing States, lemon law buy back, recalls, inspections and more...

Whenever possible ask to inspect the title document itself

It should clearly indicate if the vehicle has a branded title. Depending on the state the title brand will be prominently displayed at the very top. Be cautious of any discrepancies or alterations on the title.

Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Or contact the equivalent agency in the relevant state. Some DMVs offer online vehicle title search services.

Consider hiring a qualified automotive technician

Weather you are running a vehicle title check in Texas or in California it is always a wise idea to hire a local inspection service to thoroughly examine the vehicle. They can identify hidden issues such as uneven paint, inconsistent panel gaps, or signs of welding that might not be apparent during a casual inspection.

By following these steps, you can perform a comprehensive check to ascertain whether a vehicle has a branded title. This information is crucial for making informed decisions, especially when purchasing a used vehicle.

Get your Vehicle History Report in 3 Simple Steps

STEP 1

Enter VIN & Search

STEP 2

Review Preliminary Results

STEP 3

Join the millions of users and gain the power of knowledge with the most advanced Vehicle History Records search in the industry!

Unlike other vehicle history report providers, VinCheckUp.com offers users comprehensive, real-time Federal Gov't Title & Total Loss data & more, at an affordable price. We use advanced, powerful tools that allow you to access the National Vehicle Title Information System as well as additional record sources to check an automobile's title history, including its reported odometer readings(s). You can also determine whether the used vehicle has ever been junked, salvaged or flooded.

What Customers Are Saying About VinCheckUp

Customer Reviews:

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Customer Reviews:

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Instant Car Title Check

Millions of cars on the road today are reported to have branded titles

A branded title vehicle will experience a depreciation of up to 40% in resale value

Branded title vehicles are likely to have a history of severe accidents or damage

What is a branded vehicle title?

The difference between a clean and a branded title vehicle

Vehicle Title Check by State

How to check if a vehicle has a branded title?